“Vidya! Is that you?” Rachel asked in excitement.
“Yes..?” Vidya replied, somewhat puzzled.
“Oh my God! Vidya Sharma, 7C, Holy Hills School!!!” Rachel said, almost as if screaming in excitement.
“Rachel Jose? Unbelievable! You look hot. I mean, you look so different” Vidya exclaimed.
“Yeah man, puberty hit, then beauty hit, what to do” Rachel chuckled. “So it’s been what almost 10-15 years easily na? Rachel asked
But her question was interrupted by “oh madam, could you please pay and move, you’re holding a line. I understand your excitement but there are people who need to be in different places” said a lady standing in line right behind Rachel.
She immediately apologised, paid and moved to the side. “13 years exactly” Vidya said. “Umm yeah, how can I forget” Rachel said exchanging somewhat awkward smiles with Vidya.
You are expecting a flashback now, aren’t you? Well you got it.
Rachel and Vidya were best friends since childhood. Growing up near each other, the two literally called each other soul sister. They went to the same school, sat in the same class, ate their lunch together, played for the school basketball team, were part of the dance team, and what not. There were times when if one of them took a leave of absence, the other too would not go to school. That’s how inseparable the two were. So what happened between the two that they hadn’t met for the last 13 years.
Amar. That’s what happened. Amar was a dashing Punjabi boy, who had gotten transferred from another school to theirs. He was their senior and was put in class 10 C, which happened to be adjacent to theirs. The day he joined, word spread like wildfire throughout the school. From juniors to seniors, everybody was eyeing this eye-candy. He was tall, had thick black hair and a great physique. He was also a star football player, so obviously the girls were always cheering for him by the stands, when he played. He was such a charming young boy and even played the guitar so well that he would fit into any romantic movie plot.
Now obviously, people have feelings and especially in school it’s all butterflies in the stomach and infatuation and all sorts if romantic cheesy things. Amar’s desk was often filled with romantic letters, flowers and chocolates from secret admirers. Vidya openly admitted to having a huge crush on him, however, Rachel being Rachel said “him? He’s just okay okay, not my type” although her heart always beat faster every time she saw him.
Things took a U-turn during the school annual culturals. School was always full of life right before and during the annual culturals. Practice sessions, bunking classes, staying back late for more practice, everything about it screamed fun. One such evening, both Rachel and Vidya were busy in the auditorium with their dance rehearsals, when Rachel suddenly twisted her ankle and fall flat on her face. She tried to get up and she couldn’t. Her right feet had swollen up like a balloon by now and she knew it was bad. Her friends tried to help her get up, but in vain.
Call it fate, but that’s when all of a sudden, Amar walks in and offers to lift Rachel up and take her to the nursing room. She tries to fight it but eventually gives in because she had no other option. Amar carefully lifted her up and said to her “I’m so sorry this happened to you, but I promise you will be okay soon”. Rachel wanted to say something but it was as if she froze, she prayed that Amar should not be able to hear her heartbeat, because that thing was racing like an F1 race car. The guy who made her heart go vrooom every time she saw him, was now so close to her, she could not believe her luck, she felt no pain at all for a while. Their eyes suddenly met for a second, before both of them looked away. But she definitely knew that meant something. There was a spark. She smiled softly, but it did not last long. “Oh my god Vidya. She will kill me if she knows this” she panicked. She tried to calm herself by thinking it was nothing when Amar looked at her again and the same thing happened. This time her heart just wanted to kiss him. “Shittt that’s bad, I can’t, I shouldn’t even be thinking” she thought again. “We’re here” Amar smiled at her and carefully put her on the bed.
He stood right next to her through the process and till her family came to pick her up.
That evening Rachel went home and did a lot of thinking. She was so lost in her thoughts that she missed Vidyas calls and messages. She finally came out of that bubble when Vidya showed up at her house to check on her, “Rach how are you feeling now? I was so worried about you when you dint pick up your calls or reply” she said, worried. “Here I got you some Jalebis” she handed over a box with some pipping hot jalebis. Rachel cried and hugged her bets friend. “Arrey what happened? Is it hurting? Don’t worry you will be fine ok” Vidya consoled her.
Rachel wanted to tell Vidya what happened today so bad, but she just couldn’t. She couldn't even think of hurting her best friend, definitely not over a boy.
Rachel was told to take one week of rest, before she could walk properly again. One day while at home, she got a notification on Facebook. She opened it to see Amar had sent her a friend request. Before she could react, “hey” came a message from him as well. She thought for a few minutes before replying “hi” back to him.
“How’s your leg now?”he asked.
“Oh it’s getting better” she replied.
“Okay that’s good to hear, I was really worried about you.”
She read that messaged over and over again and thought “he was worried about me!!!! Oh my god, he is so sweet”.
After a few minutes of typing and erasing she finally sent - “hey Amar, that was really kind of you. I couldn’t even thank you on that day. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey Rachel, I completely understand. You don’t have to be sorry. I am just glad to hear you are okay. So when are you back in school?” He asked.
“I should be back by Wednesday”.
“Great! I can’t wait to see you.” He replied.
Rachel’s mouth hung open on seeing this message. “OMG Amar what are you doing to me” she thought. She couldn’t wait to meet him too but this was all too complicate, too hard to even explain.
Rachel arrived to school along with Vidya in on Wednesday and stayed confused throughout the day. She chose ti stay in classroom even during recess, she did not want to bump into Amar and rekindle all of those feelings that were burning inside her. It was during PT period that she finally was forced to get out, but chose to stay within the premises of the auditorium because she wanted to rest her legs.
“You sure you’ll be fine by yourself here? If you want I can stay with you” Vidya exclaimed.
“No no I’ll be fine, I don’t want you missing practice. Remember our final match is in two weeks, we need the trophy. You need to practice” Rachel replied.
“Okay boss “ Vidya said as she saluted her and left.
Rachel opened a book and started reading, but was interrupted by a “hi”.
She looked up to see the boy who made her heart go vroom.
“Hhhi Amar” she said awkwardly with a cracked voice.
“Book worm huh?” He joked.
“Haha not at all, I was just bored so I thought I might as well” she replied.
“ That’s a great idea to beat boredom. I was just done with practice and saw you sitting here and thought I’ll give you company. I hope that’s okay” he smiled.
“Of course, that’s very sweet of you Amar”. She replied.
“Rachel I am so happy to see you back in school. I…I don’t know how this will come out, but I did miss you” he said looking away.
“Really?” She asked puzzled and happy at the same time.
“Yeah, I think you are beautiful. From the first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you were something. I had promised myself when I joined this school I’ll be focusing only on my sports and studies, but girl, you took my breathe away.” he said looking deep into her eyes.
Rachel looked into his eyes and she literally felt butterflies in her stomach. She knew it SAs wrong but she just wanted to kiss him then and there.
“Do you feel that too?” He asked coming a little more closer to her, whilst still looking deep into her eyes.
“Yes” she said, without taking her eyes off. “But…”
Before she could complete, Amar put his lips on hers. They began kissing very passionately, before she broke the kiss off and said “Amar, no this is wrong. I can’t.”
“What’s wrong? I am sorry, was it not good. Rachel I’m so sorry”. He said.
“No nooo it was great. I mean. It was the best thing ever, but I can’t”. She said as she burried her face in her palms.
“Why is it wrong. You like me I like you, what’s the matter?”
“Amar, I really like you, from the day I saw you I have had a crush on you.”
“Then what is the problem Rachel?” He questioned.
“My best friend. Vidya, she is madly in love with you Amar, it would crush her if she knew this.” Rachel cried and as she looked up at Amar, she saw someone standing behind him at a distance. It was Vidya. As soon as Rachel got up, Vidya left, running like a storm. “Amar I am sorry I need to go”.
“Rachel, I really like you and would love if we could give this a try, if you think you can speak to Vidya, she is your best friend, shouldn’t she understand you? Give it a try and see, I’ll be waiting for you” he said before Rachel paced out.
After an hour of searching Rachel found Vidya in the washroom, she was red and in tears. Rachel ran to hug her, but Vidya pushed her away.
“Don’t touch me” she yelled. “Why? You know everything and still you did this. Why Rachel?” She said breaking down into tears.
“I’m so sorry Vidya, I dint mean to hurt you. It just happened.” She tried explaining.
“You dint even like him, at least you could have told me, I would have been happy. But I can’t bear this, you went behind my back. I don’t care that you kissed him or anything. But you broke my trust. You dint think about our friendship or anything. Not one word about this you told me also. I feel so cheated.”Vidya cried as she got up to leave.
“Please don’t go, please. I am so sorry.” Rachel cried.
“You and I are over Rachel Jose. This is a goodbye. I HATE YOU RACHEL JOSE” Vidya yelled before slamming the door at Rachel’s face.
For 13 years, there was not a day when Rachel dint think about Vidya, and where she was. She tried to contact her several time, but in vain. After that incident, Vidya was so broken that she had changed schools and their family also moved out from that house, cutting all ties with Rachel. Their parents were left to wonder what had happened between the two soul sisters.
And now. 13 years later, they met, during a very random grocery shopping.
Rachel hugged Vidya tight and said “I missed you so much”. Vidya returned the hug and said “sorry I overreacted back then, I missed you too”.
“So tell me what’s happening now, where have you been” Rachel asked, as they walked across to the park in front of the shop.
“Well, after that incident, we shifted to Pune. So I studied there, graduated from there and got married to the love of my life. It’s been 2 years now” she smiled.
“That’s amazing, I can’t believe I wasn’t there to celebrate with you. Remember how much we used to plan for the wedding during school” she laughed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry, I thought of calling you Rach but I did not know what to say” Vidya hugged Rachel. “Tell me what’s happening with you? How is Amar?”
“Who knows, I haven’t spoken to him since that day. You left and I was crushed. I wanted to leave that school too but I couldn’t. I waited to pass out to leave the city. I went to Bangalore for college and I am running my own business now.” She said.
“Ooh boss lady indeed” Vidya chuckled. “I’m so proud of you, I am so happy to have met you, there is so much to catch up on. Let’s go to my place, it’s right next to the park. I’ll drop you home later.”
“Sound like a plan. Let’s get a bottle of wine and sit with it. We have 13 years to catch up to , it’s going to be a long night” Rachel said excitedly as they got into the car and left.
